Falling short of joining the NHL was a crushing blow. At 17, with aspirations of becoming a professional hockey player, I rapidly rose in the world of on-ice officiating. Having grown up around illness in my home, I understood early on how short life could be. I felt compelled to skate toward a career characterized by speed, transformation, and an unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth.



A job getting paid to watch hockey legends come up through the ranks seemed like the perfect coalescence of my talent, skills, and fandom. But as it turns out, I wasn’t meant to be an NHL referee.